The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-04
WHO FOUND AMERICA?
WAS IT LEFT, Arr OR THE IRISH ST.
BRANDAN? ...s
Proof that an Expedition Sailed from
Tralee Bay in the Sixth Century and
Travelled Inland to the Ohio River
An Interesting Paper.
b. r. eastman In the Boston Advertiser.

d. R eastman in the Boston Advertiser
The unwilling of statue in the city OF
Boston, on October %, to Left Ericsson, the
reputed discoyerer of America, has opened
up a question of singular interest to the
American people, MS well MS TO students OF
history and achRologsts throughout the
world do not go into print TO attempt
10 take from "Leif the Lucky, Son OF Erick
the Red" properly so called, the laurels
that may properly belong to him. | shall
give him due credit for what he did, but as
the whole and sole credit OF being the first
discoyerer is claimed for him, should
like,,in a spirit OF fair play in keeping
with historical truth, 10 take the chaplet OF
palms and laurels laid upon the pedestal
OF Leif's statue and place it first upon the
brow of the first European who landed on
the shores of this continent. 1t WIS not, |
believe, Lett Ericsonl
Now for the proofs pro ct con. There are
no proofs in this relation that will mate
rialize in 1887 events which happened in
the tenth OF eleventh century. The only
"proofs," il such they may be called, we
have of the first discoveries are contained
in the scandinavian sagas or legends OF
mythic tradition handed down among the
Norsemen as those in the "Landnama-
book, " etc; the Irish Annals; the stories or
myths OF other countries, or authorities
who reverently investigated the subject
and gave their version for what they were
worth, such as Humboldt in his Cos
mos" Smith in his Mortimer in New
England" Usher in his Antiquities of
British Churches" and his "Epistles OF
the Irish Saints" "Lyfe Of Saynt Bran
dan in the Golden Legend, published
by Wynkyn de Woode in 1883 mine years
before Columbus sailed from Palos), the
"Nova I.egcnda," written by Capgrave
and published in 1916, Voraginius, bishop
OF Genoa, in the thirteenth century, OF
way in his work published in 1915, and
finally manuscripts in the libraries OF
France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany,
Denmark, etc.
WHAT IS DUE TO COLUMBUS.
To the great Genoese sailor, Christopher
Columbus, has heretofore been accorded
the praise and credit OF Disseminating the
ocean and bringing two hcmispheres into
contact; of opening up for the suffering
humanity OF the old world q new world
OF peace, rest and freedom. The bones Of
the grand old admiral will not rest less
easily in his cathedral tomb in Havana at
the attempt TO filch leaf from his laurel
crown and stick II as feather in the cap
of Lett Ericsson or any previous discoverer
of the new world. Columbus knew that
Europeans had preceded him and discov-
cred lluitramannaland white mans land)
marked on his sailing charts. The preyi-
Gus discovery, however, was in his time
yelled in mythic uncertainty, hundreds OF
years having elapsed since the stories
originated, and TO him belongs the honor
and glory OF bringing together the old and
new worlds for all practical purposes OF hui
mainly. Left and his predecessors deserve
praise for their daring voyages OF discoy-
cry, but Columbus alone conferred the
boon OF possession upon the races OF the
earth who have since made II their refuge.
The chief question for the present pur-
pose Is. was Left Ericson-as is claimed
she irst European who discovered and
l-od upon the shores Of America? The fol-
lowing is, / trust, a fair answer 10 the
question. shall he happy IL more light
may he thrown on the obscurity that en-
velops the matter by persons who may be
competent TO do 20.
The Scandinavians count three several
predecessors Of Columbus, viz: Ar Mar.
son, whose voyage took place in OS3;
IIiorn, aitcrward, and later, Gudliei, sou OF
Gudlang, who, toward the middle OF the
eleventh century, followed the track OF
and cmyorsed with Biorn in lluitraman-
naland, or lrland il AIikla, the great Ire
land beyond the Atlantic
Ar the Learned, born in 1867, compiled
the Iandnamabock, " from which the fol-
lowing Is extracted. He was descended
from Ari Marson. lie SAYS "Ulf the
Squinicr, son OF Hogni the White, occu
pied lie whole Of Reykianess (southwcsi
promoniory OF Iceland, between Thorska.
ford and Iiairalcll. lie had q wife
named Biorg. the daughter OF Eyyind the
East Countryman They had son named
Atili the Red. who married ThorkOtu,
daughter Of Hcrgll. They had a son
named Ari, who was driven by n tempest
30 Huitrunaunaland white mans land,
which some call Irland IL Mikla Great
Ireland. which lies In the Western ocean
near TO Ninland the Good, west from Ire
land. All was not permitted 10 depart
but was baptized there"
NINETEENTH CENTURY TESTIMONY.
The "Iandnamabock," compiled in N,
thirteenth century, relates Of the second
and third voyages. 80 Rain, the Liner
lex merchant, first stated, who lived Tor
long time in Limerick, in Ireland" Thi'
Manson. and livcda t the beginning or mid
die OF the eleventh century. 80, also
Thorkcl, .the son Of Gellcr grandson o
An Mafsonl, says that certain Icclandcn
stated. who heard Thorlinn, Jarl Of Oh,
.Orkncys born in zoos, died in 1904, ~
late that Ari had been seen and known II
Huiiramannaland, and that although no
suffered TO depart thence, be was Their
hold In ,,r.nl honor Ar hala vile name,
Thorgcrd, daughter OF All Of DOlum
Their sons were Thoyils, Gudlicf and II
luigi, which Is the family Of Rcykiancss.
Then follows q passage which shows tia
Eric tho Red was connected with th
family of Ari Marson. II proceeds. "Jor
und was the son Of Uli, the Squintcr Ill
married Thohorg Knarrarbring. They haD
a daughter Thjodhild, whom Erick th
Red married. They had n son, Left th
Lucky oi Greenland whom | believe
the Lcii under discussion.
All the Learned, being Immediately dc
ecendcd from Ar hlanOn, and hayn
lived century later, u Is but natural :
suppose that he would be anxious an
careful to obtnin the most accurate at
count OF his ancestor, and no doubt he did
Now. Il IL N present claimed that Del
Ericsson discovered Nmland IN the yea
1000. and conceded in the northern Saga
that Ari Marons voyage occurred IN 9S.
This certainly places Ar as The iirst OF hi
race who trod the term Trina OF the Amer
ican continent The Iluiirnmannaland 9
Great Ireland, IA stated TO bc situated =
the Western ocean, near Nlnland, an
west Of Ireland" The Sagas describe th
route townrd IL thus: '"Io the south
tlau1 Il